"The details" (as requested)

So as I've mentioned, we decided that this was the month we wanted to start trying. Our main reason was because Wes travels basically the entire summer and even though it would be great to have the baby during the summer for a teacher schedule, I just don't want to have a 2 year old a newborn by myself. 

The baby (as far as the internet tells me) is going to be due December 4. Which is the second reason we wanted to get pregnant this month. If I can have our sweet new baby at a little past 38 weeks like we did with Eli, then the baby will be born the weekend before Thanksgiving which gives me a whole other week to count towards leave without using any of my almost nonexistent days! yay! 

When we got pregnant with Eli we weren't planning or anything like that. So this was a new experience for us. We feel overwhelmingly blessed that we got pregnant the first month because people have told us that it doesn't often happen that way. But, we believe that God's timing is sovereign for everyone so whenever it happens that's when it's supposed to happen! 

I knew that yesterday was the first day I could take one of those early response tests. So, I jump out of bed at 6:29 (you know... the whole wake up a minute before your alarm goes off kind of thing) and grab the test and head to the bathroom! I think I almost pulled out every single eyelash (which is what I do when I'm anxious) waiting for those eternal 3 minutes to pass! Then... hour glass flashing... hour glass flashing... hour glass flashing... PREGNANT! YAY!!! 

So. I'm basically 3 weeks a long. It's still a teeny tiny little sac that's about to start growing a placenta. Incredible.

You guys are so awesome. Thank you for your sweet sweet wishes! I love sharing this with you!

Hello friends!

15 month check up

Well. He's still growing!

Weight: 27 pounds

Height: 33 inches

Everything is right on track. He even started walking backwards some this week, which I didn't even know was a little milestone but it is! Now the only thing left to conquer is the night time bottle. (gulp) 

We are in our backyard right now playing in the sun. He's so big. I love him.

It's a great day to be frustrated

Today I'm frustrated because my camera is broken and I still haven't sent it to be fixed.

Today I'm frustrated because I'm starting this website, which require pictures, which turn out horrible because of my broken camera.

Today I'm frustrated because I just am basically ignorant when it comes to starting a website.

Today I'm frustrated because I can't always convey my vision into words... or a website for that matter.

Today I'm frustrated because I've been trying to figure out how to change my CNAME (whatever that is) to match my mobileme account so my personal domain and my mobileme will be a match.

Today I'm frustrated because I packed up my "A Girl's Guide to Starting Her Own Business" book and have no idea which box it is in.

But it's a fantastic day to be frustrated because it is gorgeous outside and so all of those frustrations seem so small. (until I come back inside and try to work on them again... haha...) I better go back out there and bask in the Vitamin D. 

Cotton Candy Day

Today is a cotton candy day. I love cotton candy. I seriously could eat that stuff almost all day long! It's fluffy, it's fun, it's magical (I mean, sugar + air + swirl = cottony goodness!), and you can't get enough of it. That's kind of how I see today. Y'all it is beyond beautiful outside. Eli and I spent the morning with Sarah and some of her neighborhood buddies at the Arboretum. You give me a free pass somewhere and I will use it! It was crazy crowded out there but the Arboretum is huge so there was still plenty of room for the kids to run around! 

It was kind of cold in the morning but then by noon it was nice and warm and fantastic! Wes came and picked me up not too long after that so we could grab some lunch and get Eli home for a nap. I'm sure we'll take him to the park or something later on because when you get a cotton candy day, you cannot stay indoors!

Now, I love my camera. It's taken some great pictures for me, but it's broken as I've mentioned to where I cannot see what I'm taking pictures of. Sometimes that works out ok and I still get a cute shot, but sometimes I get this: 

Sorry Wes. I must have zoomed in at some point (why... I have no idea. I literally cannot see anything I'm trying to take a picture of) and not zoomed back out when I was taking some pics of Eli watching Wes rehearse. So... I guess I need to use some of my time this week and take it to a camera repair shop to get an estimate. ugh. 

I am loving this week already. Thank you Spring Break for being so wonderful.

On another great note, I got to see my dear friend Rosa last night at church! I was walking towards the back to meet Jouleen's dad and I was kind of scanning the crowd and I see Rosa sitting there, with her beautiful smiling face and everything! I think I may have even pushed some people out of my way to get to her! (kidding... I think) We only were able to speak for a minute but we will have to catch up soon!

Eli is not friends with the nursery

Well here we are. Eli is going to be 15 months in 3 days. We go to the 9:30 service, which is the first service, at our church since Wes plays at both and Eli's nap is typically around when the 2nd service is over. He goes to the same room each time, New Creations, Day 5. There are usually different people in there almost each time, and maybe that has something to do with it, but not much. What I'm talking about is his almost constant crying as soon as I leave him. 

I go in. I hang his bag up. I sit down with him, we look at some toys, the nursery worker comes over to say hi and meet Eli. I stand up, he starts screaming, I kiss him and tell him I love him and walk away. I don't know if there is a point that I will stop being bothered by this, but I still hate it. I hate seeing him cry like that. 

When I go to pick him up, his eyes are all puffy, his face is red, and he has tears and snot dried all over his face. I ask, "how was he?" They say, "he was good, he cried on and off, but did get down to play a little." hmm... 

I've been reading all kinds of books about raising sons. They are all really similar and based off of compatible research. It seems that for many boys, the separation anxiety phase is a bit more severe than for girls. I have no idea because I only have one son, but he definitely fits that description. Looking around the room at all the cute kiddos, there were only 2 other boys and lots of little girls running around playing... and not crying. 

I'm doing my part. I'm taking him as often as I can, going with a good attitude, talking to him a lot, being brief but loving in my departure... now I guess I'll just wait on nature to do it's part and Eli to feel a little more secure when I leave.

Until then... 

Boys boys boys

Yesterday after work I went over to Jen's house and played for a little while! She has a little boy that's 3 years old and she was also watching her brother's son, who is also 3 years old! They are SO cute!! It was absolutely adorable watching them play together! Eli wasn't so sure how to play with them but he loved watching them play and just walking around... haha... and taking the occasional toy and putting it in his bag... do I have a little kleptomaniac on my hands?

Well Spring Break started for us today! Yay! I will have to be honest and say that I was not as

 looking forward to it as I have been in the past. I think the reason is that working half a day at school has really allowed me not to be as crazy exhausted as in the past. Our family has been hugely blessed by this opportunity and I am still so thankful for it!

I had student video projects due in class yesterday and today and they turned out fantastic! I am so proud of my kiddos! I love the students I have. I've had awesome students in the past but this is the first year that every single student is incredible. Encourage your kids to be their quirky little selves because if they can hold on to that, in high school their teachers will love them! Or at least I will! All of those dry sense of humors, those one liners, those funny speech patterns... I just love them! I can't imagine anyone not wanting to teach high school. They are fantastic!

This is the first month we were consciously trying to have a baby. haha... does that make sense? I still don't get the whole ovulation cycle. Don't feel like you need to teach me unless you just want to. In fact, I actually teach it to my class but there are always exceptions and there are always babies born when ovulation didn't even seem to be happening. I looked at about 3 or 4 different websites and they all gave me about the same window... sort of... So who knows! I guess I'll find out at the beginning of April! 

Amazing Jakes

Last night we had our birthday bash with some of our sweet friends! We met for dinner at the buffet, I got to finally meet Andrea, Jourdan's sister, and it was SO much fun! Meeting with friends is seriously one of my most favorite things to do! I love you guys!

Lindey and I on the go carts--- we got first place ;)

Lizzalicious and I 

one of the cutest couples ever, Mere and Tyler

happy birthday to us!

that guy in the background went up to Jourdan and Andrea and asked them if they were lesbians and would not go away. Jourdan had to ask him to leave.

the girls!

Liz! Amanda! Jourdan!

haha... Wes on the bumper cars

enjoying the buffet

this was us trying to wait out the neverending rain in the car

Thanks for coming guys!!!

The smell of rain

As I sit here and type I can smell and hear the rain! (I can also hear my son screaming in his crib... which... isn't so pleasant...) And I'm thankful for the rain for many reasons but mainly because I was slacking on watering my baby flowers in the front yard and now they are getting a nice drink!

ok... I'll be right back. I can't focus with Eli crying. 

grr... this wretched daylight savings time!! It might as well be bright as day in his room! We are definitely fixing that before tomorrow night. Poor thing... 

Ok y'all. I got my report card from my graduate school and I got all A's! yay!! Too bad I wasn't this good of a student in high school and college! So next week I start my pre-practicum class, but since I have already passed the test I just have to do some case studies and then I can start logging hours for practicum! I will graduate in August! Yes!!

It has been so beautiful outside lately! We have loved playing around at different parks, which is actually the reason I haven't been blogging on this site much lately. I kind of feel like I'm cheating on this blog due to this "great idea" I have for a website I'm starting. More on that when I have something...

I finally used my mani/pedi gift certificate that Jeff got the girls for Christmas! Thanks Jeffy! Jouleen and I went yesterday and it was so awesome! sorry for the randomness of the photos... the screen on my camera is still broken so we can't see what we are taking a picture of!

The "baby-ness" of my son is basically gone... which makes me question why he is still getting a bottle and paci in bed!? (sigh...) I'm gearing up for that battle ahem, right honey?? He pretty much understands everything we say to him. He is full of opinions which he expresses with his own little jibberish language. He's still not saying that many words and he's becoming less interested in books. He used to want to look at every page and now he'll bring over 4 or 5 and he might look at two pages each! 

He's getting taller. He's getting cuter! If that is even possible... And he's just getting to be so big. Now the hitting has stopped thank goodness, due to me thumping his hand when he would hit me. He does still turn into a werewolf (spelling anyone?) when he gets tired and the one year old violence ensues, but we just put him to bed and he's fine. I just still stare at him as much as possible. I love looking at him. He is incredible.

My dad and I went to the henna ceremony of one of our former students on Sunday night. I had never been to one before and Fatima looked SO beautiful! Her wedding is tomorrow and I so wish I could be there but I can't! :( She graduated last year and she is marrying a guy that was arranged for her by their families. Apparently he's a really great guy! He's tall, cute, some sort of doctor, but they move to London where he lives at the end of the month. It will be so sad not to have her around... but there is always facebook! :)

Goin to the chapel

My cousin Susan got married! Yay!! It was a lot of fun and we are so happy for the happy couple! 

Love you Susan and Mason!

The day of my birth

Today I am 27 years old! Wow. What a fun age I can already tell! I have no problem getting older... yet... :) 

Wes' mom is in town and I took her to the Dallas Arboretum and we had SO much fun! It was a perfect day! 

What I learned in counseling today

1. Sometimes you can't just be tolerant of the situation, you actually have to genuinely support it.

2. Being over-controlling of how things go with your baby may not be the most productive thing but it's all part of the process and is normal to go through.

3. It's interesting how you can want to hit someone, feel sorry for them, and really like them all at the same time.

4. It's hard to be encouraging to your spouse (even though it might be easy to do so for others) because sometimes we're not encouraging to ourselves. (there was actually a lot more to that... but kind of hard to convey right now while I am typing for some reason)

5. ... oh great... there was something else that I can't remember... uh oh.

Twins!

Why does my camera have to be broken? :(

Do not fret friends! I am no longer Debbie Downer! Yay! Thanks for all of your sweet words! I haven't forgotten my commitments to be a more faithful blogger for myself and this week is kind of different because Wes is gone and his mom Carol is staying with me to take care of Eli! Yay!

Today at school Padme the guinea pig had a surprise for everyone. On Friday everyone was saying that she was really fat and Adam, the owner/science teacher, was worried that she had tumors. This morning we came in and there were two guinea pig babies with her!!! Twins! How adorable is that?! Y'all those are the cutest little babies I have ever seen! (insert adorable picture of guinea pig babies here!)

Ok guys... I think Wes and I have decided to maybe start trying this month or next! We'll see!